€50M EU P4Q Pilot Targets Scalable Quantum Photonic Chips

A new European Union–backed quantum pilot project, Photonics for Quantum (P4Q), will launch in 2026 with a total investment of €50 million to improve the reliability and scalability of photonic chips for quantum applications. The initiative brings together a large consortium spanning more than a dozen European countries and is coordinated by the University of Twente.

As global competition in quantum technologies accelerates, the EU aims to strengthen both its research base and manufacturing capacity. P4Q is positioned at the intersection of photonics and quantum technology, focusing on standards, production techniques, and infrastructure required to ensure quantum photonic chips function reliably and repeatedly beyond laboratory environments.

“Ideas that currently remain in the lab can grow into really useful devices more quickly,” said Pepijn Pinkse, coordinator of P4Q and professor at the University of Twente.

The project targets practical improvements in photonic chip performance, including reduced optical loss in chips and fibers, components that remain stable at extremely low temperatures, and photonic circuits suitable for integration into larger systems. These systems include full-stack quantum computers, quantum sensors, and ultra-secure quantum communication networks based on entangled photons.

Reliable photonic chips are essential for a range of emerging applications. These include sensors capable of detecting trace contaminants in water infrastructure, compact laboratory devices that measure extremely weak signals with high precision, and scalable platforms for quantum computing and secure communications. P4Q focuses on bridging the gap between research prototypes and deployable technologies by prioritizing repeatability, integration, and manufacturability.

The consortium includes 29 partners, spanning universities, research and technology organisations, industrial foundries, start-ups, and multinational companies. As part of the project, Process Design Kits (PDKs) and Assembly Design Kits (ADKs) are being developed to better align design and production workflows. Multiple photonic platforms are addressed, including silicon nitride (SiN), thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN), and alumina (AlOx).

A key objective of P4Q is scaling up testing and production infrastructure. By improving access to high-quality fabrication and qualification facilities, the project aims to lower barriers for start-ups and smaller companies entering the quantum photonics space, while simultaneously improving device quality and consistency.

The €50 million investment comprises €25 million from EU funding and €25 million from national governments across 12 European countries. The project is structured into eight work packages and targets Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 8, supporting large-scale demonstration and further industrialisation.

In the Netherlands, P4Q is supported by Oost NL and made financially possible by Quantum Delta NL, Nanolab NL, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

About Photonics for Quantum (P4Q)

Photonics for Quantum (P4Q) is an EU-backed pilot project focused on developing scalable, reliable photonic chip technologies for quantum sensing, computing, and secure communications. The project brings together 29 partners across academia, research organizations, foundries, start-ups, and industry to advance standards, manufacturing processes, and infrastructure for quantum photonics.

About the University of Twente

The University of Twente is a Netherlands-based research university with a strong focus on high-tech systems, photonics, nanotechnology, and applied science. The university plays a leading role in European research initiatives spanning quantum technologies, integrated photonics, and advanced manufacturing. For more information, please click here.

Source: University of Twente

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